Legend of Cao Xueqin

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Legend of Cao Xueqin

Applicant: Haidian District, Beijing

Project No.: 1030

Project No.: i-86

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: Folk Literature

Region: Beijing

Type: new item

Applicant: Haidian District, Beijing

Protected by: Beijing Botanical Garden

The legend of Cao Xueqin

Applicant: Haidian District, Beijing

The legend of Cao Xueqin (Xishan) is mainly spread in Xiangshan, Shouan and Jinshan in Beijing, known as "Xiaoxishan". It is a folk legend with the theme of Cao Xueqin and a dream of Red Mansions. It belongs to "Legend of characters".

The legend of Cao Xueqin (Xishan) is a collective oral creation of the people in Xiangshan area, which has been handed down for more than 200 years. The content involves Cao Xueqin's life experience, temperament and appearance, outstanding talent, as well as the character prototype and creative environment of a dream of Red Mansions. It expresses people's love for Cao Xueqin and a dream of Red Mansions, and reflects the influence of writers and works on society from one side. After the death of Cao Xueqin, with the passage of time, the legend about him has been further strengthened, and gradually the local customs, mountains and rivers, historical stories and characters allusions have been attached to the legend, and added to Cao Xueqin, so that Cao Xueqin, as a great writer, has the color of some "witty characters" who are chivalrous and righteous. In the process of oral spreading, it is constantly processed and pondered, and the color of legend is increasingly strong. It shows the people's ideological understanding, moral concept, life attitude, aesthetic taste, and evaluation of various objective things in the Xishan area of Beijing. It has the characteristics of reflecting the extensiveness and profundity of social life.

The legend of Cao Xueqin (Xishan) is a precious cultural heritage handed down through the collective inheritance of the people. However, due to the flow of population, the death of the elderly and the diversification of entertainment, it is in an endangered state.